The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-01-15

w. e. Roberts, "A clean shaven, alert
looking delegate from Division 81 OF
Philadelphia, comes from a family of
railroad men. His father took out. as
conductor, the first pas>engertrain that
ever went over the B Gilmore x Ohio,
and many OF his relatives are plotting
locomotives on roads east aud west He
is First Assistant Engineer and Secretary
in his DIVISION. Ii, has stood in the loco
motive cab twenty -four wears. and IS now
running out OF Philadelphia on the Will
mingtou X Baltimore Road. Here is a
story Of his that is both thrilling and pa
thetic: One afternoon, twelve years ago,
he was driving bis locomotive and nine
teen Cars over the road at speed of
thirty miles an hour, when he saw on
the track before him little black object
that he took to be Illuminate. AS the
engine sped nearer the obstacle moved
and Roberts thought it must be a dog
Ihree hundred yards further on, the
train still running with no Slaokeuiug of
speed, the engineer made out lutte
child standing between h. lies and look
ing lnnocently at the coming monster.
Roberts realized that his locomotive
could not be pulled up Iii time. The
child must either move or be killed. HIS
whistle sent out success, ion of piercing
shrleks and he reversed his erglue, but
still the baby stood there, its trnck blow
ing in the b. eeze and a gleeiul exp ession
on its face. Tne engineer was III agony
of despair. 1t flashed across his mind
| that Ill another second he would crush a
little innocent about the same age as one
he had at home. He shut his eyes when
the engine Was at the spot where the
child stood. A hundred yards farther on
it came to a staudstil. Fo: minutes
Roberts leaned against the side o! his
cab without finding courage to get down
and look at the bapy's mutilated body.
By this time the conductor had hurried
to where the little one had been stand
ing. He called 10 Roberts to come there
The engineer obeyed like a criminal GO
ing to the place of execution, but the
next moment he felt that God had re
prieved him. Sitting on patch of grass,
tho only soft place along the road for
half milo on either side, was the child,
sound and unhurt. Just as the engine.
swaylng under the reverse motion.
reached her, the ehiId had fallen forward
on the cowcatcher- The coupling hook
caught in her dress and hed her tor an
instant. Then reel of the engine to
Luc right Threw ner To one size, where
she fell on the grass. Ono trItilug hruise
on the forehead was the ouiy mark on
her skin. the child is now "a young lady
who lives on the line of the Philadelphia,
Wilmington II b gilmore Railroad
" T. Star.
An accidental meetin. with the father
of VIM. G. Roberts, who Is the tather-ln-
law of our we'll known tosnsmau john
Perkins few days aga IN Philadelphia,
recalled the ABOVE incident which the Star
30 lmperfectly describes. In fact as the
story is told above VIM. g. Roberts did
nothing either brave or heroic He
simply did as any engineer would have
done whether brave personally OF not.
he reversed his engine and awaited re
suits. Tho Star makes a very tame story
out of really brave act. the fact il that
after reversing his engine, Mr.. Roberts
crept out upon her and reaching the pilot
of the engine stopping low over the cow
catch.r and caught the child III his arms
before the engins STRUCK it. THIS
very material incident which the Star
omits is the point which adorns the story.
Without it, it is the play OF 0 hello with
Othello left out.